Industry 4.0: The future of STEM jobs and what it means for you
University of Glasgow Careers, Employability & Opportunity
By Katrina Gardner , Careers & Employability Manager
Have you heard of “Industry 4.0”? Even if not, you’ll likely be familiar with what this term means. It’s often used to describe the current phase of massive change in society, including within the job market, and is characterised by the integration of advanced technologies like AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and automation in various industries.
So, what does this all mean for the future of STEM jobs and how you should prepare for your own career?
How Industry 4.0 has affected the job market
Industry 4.0 has significantly impacted the job market, causing many jobs to disappear and simultaneously creating lots of new jobs. Fortunately, by 2035, more than 11 million extra graduates will be required in the UK to fill new jobs in sectors including engineering, computing and health, according to the Jobs of the future report. In fact, 88% of all new jobs in the UK and 86% of new roles in Scotland are predicted to be at graduate level. Even better news for STEM students and graduates is that the job area predicted to see the biggest growth is in STEM with a predicted 1.9 million new roles in the UK by 2035.
How you can prepare for a future STEM career
The outlook for STEM jobs in the future is very positive, but it may be a bit overwhelming to know how to plan your career path when jobs are ever-changing and when you aren't sure what new roles will exist.
Here are five key tips for you to help you effectively navigate your career path as a STEM professional.
Embrace lifelong learning
No doubt you’re keen and able learners, and it shouldn’t stop when you graduate. Continuous upskilling will help you adapt to changes in current jobs and transition into new roles.
As a UofG student, you have free access to LinkedIn Learning, a vast collection of e-learning video courses to extend your knowledge beyond your degree programme. Courses cover technology, business and creative skills, and upon completion, you’ll receive digital certificates that you can add to your LinkedIn profile and CV. ?
Recognise your professional skills
Professional skills will also make you more adaptable to changing job markets and include things like communication, problem solving and critical thinking. You’re constantly developing professional/transferable skills on your course as well as via your cocurricular and extracurricular activities (eg club/society involvement, part-time job, internships, personal project).
Learn more about what skills are growing in demand in The Future of Jobs Report 2023.
领英推荐
Take an interdisciplinary approach in your learning and work experience
The future of work will often involve integrating knowledge from multiple STEM disciplines. Consider what interdisciplinary opportunities exist as part of your studies, including projects and research, and explore further where possible. (This will also help you enhance your skills in critical thinking, analytical thinking and more.)
You should also look out for internships and graduate opportunities on Gradcracker and other job searching platforms with organisations seeking people from varied disciplines to bring together shared expertise.
Be open to global opportunities
The demand for STEM jobs is global. International opportunities, like internships and study abroad, can broaden your career prospects by build your resilience, adaptability and cultural awareness. Plus, you can build valuable connections with peers, employers and colleagues from around the world.
Connect with professionals and gain experience
There are loads of ways to connect with STEM professionals (ie “network”) and discover ways to gain experience, including at
Bonus tip: After these and other careers events, request to connect on LinkedIn with professionals you spoke to (and include a personalised message in your request referencing where you met).
Other resources
“What can I do with my degree?” from Prospects: Explore a wide range of career options based on your degree subject, including some you might not have considered
Peer Career Support Team website: Check how our team of 18 student Peer Career Supporters can help you and where to find them
Our Masterclasses: Join careers Masterclasses to get insight on CVs, cover letters, where to look for opportunities, assessment centres, applying for further study and much more
Glasgow Careers: Browse part-time jobs, internships, insight days, graduate opportunities and more on our digital platform
Our other careers fairs and events: Connect with employers, explore a range of career opportunities, develop key skills and much more
Note: Our events and services are exclusively for University of Glasgow students and recent graduates (from the last two years). Learn more on our website.
#India & #Indian #Educational institutions must emulate from University of Glasgow Careers, Employability & Opportunity or else #Indian youth would leave the country for their higher studies and much better growth opportunities abroad.